Local video game developers finding success on Kickstarter

An Ottawa startup has become one of the first Canadian groups to complete a successful fundraising campaign on Kickstarter since the popular crowdfunding website officially launched in Canada last month.

(Stock image)

By Jacob Serebrin

Conatus Creative raised $217,643 to fund a sequel to the 1989 video game River City Ransom. The independent developer, whose month-long campaign ended on Oct. 9, was looking to bring in $180,000.

Another local video game developer is also finding success on Kickstarter. Tynan Sylvester, the founder of Ludeon Studios, has raised $119,070 to continue development on his science-fiction game RimWorld.

He had only been looking to raise $20,000. The campaign, which started on Oct.1, is still running until the beginning of November.

Kickstarter, which launched in 2009, is the most popular crowdfunding site in the world, allowing users to raise money for a wide variety of create projects.

Before Sept. 9, Canadians could fund projects on the site but launching a fundraising campaign required a bank account in the United States or, since October 2012, the United Kingdom. Since the official launch, over $3 million has been pledged to Canadian projects through the site.